[Retros] Economy rules

[A J Mestel]

I'm no expert in problem aesthetics. A long time ago I composed a more 
mover when I had to guard WKh2 against R-checks. It looked simplest and 
neatest to me to add WPg2 WPh3. As (once!) a player, this just seems like 
a natural king position - nothing "jars" when I look at a king-side like 
that.

I showed my problem to the great Norman MaCleod and he corrected my WPh3
to a BPh3, saying it was a definite improvement, more aesthetic, less 
wasted white force etc. To me it looked ugly. The point is obvious -
it's all in the mind of the beholder.

There is no uniform agreement about these things, although sometimes there
is a concensus. As to what judges like - better ask the award-winners....

   Jonathan

  On Tue, 4 Dec 2007, Rol, Guus wrote:


>

> Nice example. Skipping over the economy rules I am a great believer in

> the aesthetics of chess positions. I once even slipped in a redundant

> pawn (by removing one and adding two pawns) for better geometry looks in

> publication. The cute thing is that aesthetics works subconsciously. It

> may get you an award where he judge doesn't even know why he awarded you

> - something he will never admit of course.

>

> In your position (without knowing it exactly) I would probably favor the

> black knight. Neutral pawns in conjunction with a white pawn look awful

> in print, whereas the black knight features nicely. Aesthetics is

> subjective though, so you may have a different perception.

>

> Guus Rol.

>

>

>

> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----

> Van: retros-bounces at janko.at [mailto:retros-bounces at janko.at] Namens

> Joost de Heer

> Verzonden: dinsdag 4 december 2007 11:55

> Aan: The Retrograde Analysis Mailing List

> Onderwerp: Re: [Retros] Economy rules

>

>> Another point is that I would quite like to retain a lightness of

>> touch in the evaluation criteria for chess compositions, except in the

>

>> domain of tasks (where the criteria need to be spelled out

> explicitly).

>

> I was talking about a task problem. The position has 1 white king, one

> black king, 4 neutral pawns, and one extra piece to avoid a cook. This

> piece can be a white pawn or a black knight.

>

> I've solved the issue by sending both versions to the editor and let him

> choose which is the more economical :).

>

> Joost

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